Dispensing system for razor blade cartridges

ABSTRACT

The specific disclosure provides a dispensing system for razor blade cartridges comprising a dispenser, a plurality of cartridges in the dispenser, and a holder having a plurality of transverse supporting surfaces on top of a frame member for sliding engagement with surfaces extending transversely of each cartridge. The dispenser has a used cartridge storage end comprising a transverse opening between a used cartridge entrance port in one side wall and a holder exit port in the other side wall. A used cartridge is positioned in the used cartridge storage end through the used cartridge entrance port by means of the holder. The frame member of the holder is moved through the transverse opening to abut a side of the used cartridge against wall surfaces forming the holder exit port. Continued movement of the holder disengages the transverse supporting surfaces of the holder from the used cartridge, and such holder surfaces are removed from the storage end through the holder exit port.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. application Ser.No. 258,682, filed June 1, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,771,223 which, inturn, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No.236,723, filed Mar. 21, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,785,051.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to safety razors of a type having at leastone blade permanently bonded in a disposable cartridge. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a dispenser and adispensing system which include means for storing used razor bladecartridges.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is known to permanently bond a razor blade in or on a disposablecartridge which includes a guard surface situated downwardly andoutwardly from the cutting edge of the blade. Such cartridges arereleasably attached to a handle or holder, and are replaced on thehandle when the cutting edge becomes unsuitable for use. For example,U.S. Pat. No. 1,864,995 discloses double edge blades bonded in plasticand metallic cartridges. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,563,802 and 2,800,713 providesingle edge blades permanently secured to plastic or metalliccartridges. U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,831 discloses plastic cartridges withsingle edge blades, and also cartridge dispensing systems. Thedispensers of U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,831 include means for storing usedcartridges.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a razorblade cartridge dispenser comprising a used cartridge storage endopposite a cartridge dispensing end. The dispenser is used in a shavingsystem which comprises a plurality of razor blade cartridges, and aholder. The holder has a plurality of transverse surfaces at an upperend of a frame member. The transverse surfaces are adapted for slidingengagement with transverse slidably engageable surfaces on eachcartridge. The storage end of the dispenser includes a used cartridgeentrance port formed in a side wall of the dispenser, a holder exit portformed in another side wall opposite the entrance port, and a transverseopening extending between the entrance port and the holder exit port forpassage of the holder frame therethrough. The holder exit port isdimensioned to permit passage therethrough of the transverse surfaces onthe holder, and to preclude removal of a used cartridge therethrough.The used cartridge is positioned in the used cartridge storage endthrough the used cartridge entrance port by means of the holder, and theframe member is moved through the transverse opening to remove theholder transverse surfaces through the holder exit port.

The invention provides an improved cartridge storage means which permitsa user to safely dispose of used cartridges without handling them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a cartridge and a cartridge holder;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the cartridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a dispenser embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser taken along lines 4--4of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a movable wall for the dispenserwith a portion broken away;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of another movable wall of thedispenser;

FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the dispenser showing the usedcartridge storage end of the dispenser; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 7 showingthe used cartridge storage end of the dispenser.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a blade cartridge 10 and a cartridgeholder 12. The blade cartridge 10 has a pair of double edge blades, 38,40 bonded permanently between a cap 34 and a blade seat member 36. Theblades 38, 40 are maintained in a separated state by a spacer 42. Aguard bar 44, 44' is spaced outwardly from opposite longitudinal sidesof the blade seat member 36 to provide a plurality of downwardlyextending shaving residue channels 46 beneath the cutting edge of thelower blade 40.

The holder 12 includes a handle 14 to which a frame member 16 issecured. Cartridge supporting surfaces shown as a generally U-shapedflanged channel member 18, and a stop and spring member 20 aretransversely positioned and secured to an upper end of the frame member16. The cartridge 10 is removably secured to the holder 12 by slidingthe flanged U-shaped member 18 into slidably engageable surfaces shownas a T-shaped channel 32 formed transversely along the underside of theblade seat 36.

With reference to FIG. 2, the cap member 34 has a plurality oftransversely spaced posts 48, 50, 52, 54 extending downwardly from thelower surface thereof. The posts 48-54 extend through a slot (not shown)in the upper blade 38, apertures (not shown) in the spacer 42, a slot(not shown) in the lower blade 40, and apertures in the blade seatmember 36. The bottom portions of the posts 48-54 are staked, forexample, by ultrasonic, mechanical or heat energy, to deform the lowerends as shown in FIG. 4, and thereby bond the components of thecartridge 10 together.

The spacer 42 has a plurality of longitudinally extending teeth on eachend thereof which protrude a slight distance in front of the cuttingedges of the upper blade 38. The teeth have spaces therebetween whichare in flow communication with perforations 58, 60 in the lower blade40. The perforations 58, 60 are in fluid communication with downwardlyextending apertures 76, 78 in the blade seat member 36. Shaving residuegenerated between the cutting edges of the blades 38, 40 passes throughflow paths defined by the spaces between the spacer teeth, theperforations 58, 60, and the apertures 76, 78.

With reference to FIG. 2, the T-shaped channel 32 formed in the lowerside of the blade seat member 36 has a pair of opposing notches 91, 93therein. One of the notches 91, 93 receives a detent 24 on a spring 22of the stop and spring member 20 (FIG. 1) when the cartridge supportingsurfaces or U-shaped member 18 is in sliding engagement with theT-shaped channel 32 to minimize the possibility of the cartridge 10 fromaccidentally sliding off the holder 12.

With reference to FIGS. 3-8, a dispenser 350 has a top wall 352 and anopposing base or bottom wall 351, as well as opposing side walls 353 and354. A new cartridge dispensing end is formed of opposing inwardlydirected flange portions 364, 365 extending transversely of thedispenser 350. As shown in FIG. 4, the cartridges 10, 10' are arrangedin abutting relationship in the dispenser 350 and are biased upwardlysuch that opposing inwardly directed members 147, 148, which define theT-shaped channel 32 of the uppermost cartridge 10 are in abuttingengagement with the undersides of the flange portions 364, 365. Thecartridges 10, 10' are biased upwardly by a pair of springs 379 (onlyone shown) extending vertically between a pair of movable walls 371,372. The upper movable wall 372 has downwardly extending side walls 373,374 that are in sliding engagement with the inner surfaces of the topand bottom walls 351, 352 of the dispenser 350. Similarly, the bottommovable wall 371 has a pair of opposed upwardly extending wall portions375, 376 that are positioned in sliding engagement with the interiorsurfaces of the side walls 353, 354 of the dispenser 350. Each of thesprings 379 are vertically positioned and held in vertical alignment byposts 377, 378 which extend in an opposing manner from the upper andlower movable walls 372, 371. The springs 379 preferably should have asufficient bias to move the lowermost cartridge into an abuttingengagement with the inner surfaces of the inwardly directed flangeportions 364, 365 while the lower movable wall 371 remains in theposition shown in FIG. 4. It is obvious that the biasing means may takeother forms than the pair of springs 379. For example, such biasingmeans may be a single spring having a coiled biasing member at one endthereof and a pair of elongated members extending tangentially from thecoiled member and tending to rotate in counter-radial directions aboutthe axis of the coiled member such that the biasing force is applied tothe opposing surfaces of the two movable walls 372, 371.

A single guide channel 366 is formed on the upper surface of the sidewall 354. When properly orientated, the holder 12 is slid or moved tothe left in sliding engagement with the T-shaped channel 32 in thebottom of the cartridge 10 until the detent 24 (FIG. 1) is in abuttingengagement with one of the recesses 91, 93 of the cartridge 10.

A new cartridge exiting port is formed in the dispenser side wall 353 byopposing parallel surfaces 400, 401 which are interconnected at thelower end by a surface 402 which is perpendicular to the surfaces 400,401. Inwardly directed tabs 362, 363 extend in an opposing manner fromthe opposite surfaces 400, 401 and beneath the flange portions 364, 365.The tabs 362, 363 are sufficiently flexible to permit the passage of thecartridge 10 to the left out of the dispenser 350 by movement of theholder 12 to the left such that the left sides of the flanges on theholder U-shaped channel member 18 are in abutting engagement with stops151, 152 formed in the left side of the T-shaped channel 32. When theuppermost cartridge 10 is removed from the dispenser 350, the nextcartridge 10' is moved into abutting engagement with the undersides ofthe flange portions 364, 365 by action of the springs 379.

A used blade end of the dispenser 350 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Withreference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the used blade access port 396 has inwardlydirected opposing flange members 393, 395. Opposing ramp elements 392are formed on the inner surfaces of the top and bottom walls 352, 351(the ramp element of wall 351 is not shown). A used cartridge 10" isinserted through the port 396 above the opposing flange members 393, 395while the holder 12 is still secured to the cartridge 10". The left sideof the cartridge 10" slides up a ramp surface 394 on each of the rampmembers 392 and moves the lower movable wall 371 upwardly such thattransverse movement of the cartridge 10" to the left as viewed in FIG. 8can be continued. Transverse movement of the used cartridge 10" iscontinued until the inwardly directed surfaces 147, 148 defining theT-shaped channel 32 of the used cartridge 10" rest on horizontalsurfaces 411 of the ramp members 392, and the used cartridge 10" is inthe position as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 8. When a subseqent usedcartridge is ready for placement in the used cartridge end of thedispenser, the above procedure is repeated to push the used cartridge10" upwardly and to locate the subsequent cartridge in the positionshown in dashed lines in FIG. 8.

The lower end 410 of the side wall 354 can be sloped or beveled as shownin FIG. 8 to provide relatively free movement of the used cartridge 10"up the ramp surfaces 394 during transmovement thereof into the usedcartridge end 396 of the dispenser 350.

When the used cartridge 10" is seated on the horizontal upper surfaces411 of the ramp members 392, the holder 12 can be removed by transversemovement to the right while maintaining the right side of the usedcartridge 10" in abutting engagement with the inner surface of the sidewall 354. Alternatively, the stop members 151, 152 can be designed toyield to a pressure on the left side of the U-shaped holder channelmember 18, and thus provide for removal of the holder 12 out a port 397defined by opposing vertical surfaces 403, 404 and a horizontal surface405 interconnecting the opposing surfaces 403, 404. Further, the stopmembers 151, 152 can be eliminated and the U-shaped holder channelmember 18 can be removed through the port 397 because the left side ofthe used cartridge 10" is in abutting engagement with an inner surfaceof the side wall 353 as shown in FIG. 8.

Modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention will beobvious to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope andspirit of the present invention. For example, the port defined bysurfaces 400, 401, 402 can be eliminated and at least one tab can besubstituted for the flange member 364. In this instance, the U-shapedchannel member 18 is positioned in the T-shaped channel of the newcartridge 10 as described hereinabove and the new cartridge isthereafter removed by rotating the handle in a clockwise manner asviewed in FIG. 4. Such rotation will disengage the new cartridge 10 fromthe substituted tab or tabs, and thus permit removal of the cartridgefrom the dispenser 350.

Although specific embodiments have been described hereinabove withreference to two double edge blades in disposable cartridge, it isobvious that all the aspects of the invention are equally suitable for adispenser and dispensing system for one or any number of single edgeblades bonded in a disposable cartridge or for one or any number ofdouble edge blades bonded in a disposable cartridge. Single edge bladecartridges are disclosed in U.S. Pat. application Ser. Nos. 191,665 and236,723, filed Oct. 22, 1971, and Mar. 21, 1972, and now U.S. Pat. Nos.3,783,510 and 3,785,051, respectively. Alternative double edge bladecartridges are shown in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 258,682, filedJune 1, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,771,223. U.S. Pat. application Ser.Nos. 191,655, 236,723 and 258,682 are incorporated herein by reference.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a razor blade cartridge shaving systemcomprising a cartridge dispenser, a plurality of razor blade cartridges,and a holder, each of said cartridges including slidably engageablesurfaces extending transversely thereof, and said holder including anupwardly extending frame member and a plurality of transverse supportingsurfaces at an upper end of said frame member, said transversesupporting surfaces being adapted for sliding engagement with saidslidably engageable surfaces; the combination comprising said dispenserincluding a base wall, a top wall in opposing relationship to said basewall, a pair of opposing side walls interconnecting said base and topwalls, a cartridge dispensing end, means at said cartridge dispensingend for releasably maintaining unused ones of said cartridges in saiddispenser, and a used cartridge storage end opposite said cartridgedispensing end; said used cartridge storage end comprising a usedcartridge entrance port formed in one of said side walls, a holder exitport formed in the other one of said side walls, said holder exit portbeing dimensioned to permit passage of said transverse supportingsurfaces therethrough and to preclude removal of a used cartridgetherethrough, and a transverse opening for passage of said frame membertherethrough, said transverse opening extending between said usedcartridge entrance port and said holder exit port; whereby a used one ofsaid cartridges is positioned in said used cartridge storage end throughsaid used cartridge entrance port by means of said holder, and saidframe member is moved through said transverse opening to remove saidtransverse supporting surfaces through said holder exit port.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein said transverse opening is formed by opposingflanges extending inwardly from said base and top walls.
 3. The systemof claim 1 wherein said used cartridge storage end further comprisesmeans for spacing said used cartridge from said transverse opening. 4.The system of claim 3 wherein said spacing means comprises a pair oframp members having said transverse opening therebetween, each of saidramp members including a ramp surface which extends inwardly in thegeneral direction of said cartridge dispensing end and transversely inthe general direction of said holder exit port.
 5. The system of claim 4wherein each of said ramp members further includes a used cartridge restsurface between the ramp surface thereof and said holder exit port. 6.The system of claim 1 wherein said dispenser further includes means forbiasing said unused cartridges in an abutting arrangement to saidcartridge dispensing end with said slidably engageable surfaces of oneof said unused cartridges in position for engagement.
 7. In a razorblade cartridge shaving system comprising a cartridge dispenser, aplurality of razor blade cartridges, and a cartridge holder, each ofsaid cartridges including at least one double edge blade bonded thereinand a plurality of underside surfaces forming a channel transverselythereof, and said holder including an upwardly extending frame memberand a plurality of transverse supporting surfaces on top of said framemember, said transverse supporting surfaces being adapted for slidingengagement with said channel surfaces; the combination comprising saiddispenser including a base wall, a top wall in opposing relationship tosaid base wall, a pair of opposing side walls interconnecting said baseand top walls, a cartridge dispensing end, means at said cartridgedispensing end for releasably maintaining unused ones of said cartridgesin said dispenser, and a used cartridge storage end opposite saidcartridge dispensing end; said used cartridge storage end comprising aused cartridge entrance port formed in one of said side walls, a holderexit port formed in the other one of said side walls, said holder exitport being dimensioned to permit passage of said transverse supportingsurfaces therethrough and to preclude removal of a used cartridgetherethrough, and a transverse opening extending between said usedcartridge entrance port and said holder exit port, said transverseopening being formed by opposing flanges extending inwardly from saidbase and top walls; whereby a used one of said cartridges is positionedin said used cartridge storage end through said used cartridge entranceport by means of said holder, and said frame member is moved throughsaid transverse opening to abut an end of the used cartridge against theside wall about said holder exit port and to remove said transversesupporting surfaces through said holder exit port after disengagementfrom said channel surfaces on the used cartridge.
 8. The system of claim7 wherein said used cartridge storage end further comprises means forspacing said used cartridge from said transverse opening.
 9. The systemof claim 8 wherein said spacing means comprises a pair of ramp membershaving said transverse opening therebetween, each of said ramp membersincluding a ramp surface which extends inwardly in the general directionof said cartridge dispensing end and transversely in the generaldirection of said holder exit port.
 10. The system of claim 9 whereineach of said ramp members further includes a used cartridge rest surfacebetween the ramp surface thereof and said holder exit port. .Iadd. 11.In a razor blade cartridge dispensing system comprising a cartridgedispenser, and a plurality of razor blade cartridges, each of saidcartridges including slidably engageable surfaces extending transverselythereof for receiving a supporting holder; the combination comprisingsaid dispenser including a base wall, a top wall in opposingrelationship to said base wall, a pair of opposing side wallsinterconnecting said base and top walls, a cartridge dispensing end,means at said cartridge dispensing end for releasably maintaining unusedones of said cartridges in said dispenser, and a used cartridge storageend opposite said cartridge dispensing end; said used cartridge storageend comprising a used cartridge entrance port formed in one of said sidewalls, a holder exit port formed in the other one of said side walls,said holder exit port being dimensioned to preclude removal of a usedcartridge therethrough, and a transverse opening extending between saidused cartridge entrance port and said holder exit port; whereby a usedone of said cartridges is positioned in said used cartridge storage endthrough said used cartridge entrance port by means of a supportingholder, and the holder is moved through said transverse opening and saidholder exit port..Iaddend.